First Avenue

Seattle cop Sam Wright is a loner with a pretty predictable life. He usually starts his days with a vigorous kayaking jaunt, followed by shooting the breeze with the old proprietor of a small coffee shop, before getting down to police business. Sam's routine suddenly changes after he is called to an old hotel where the body of a baby has been found. What's particularly troublesome is that Sam knows he saw the baby and its young mother just a few weeks earlier. Sam chases down any lead that could provide clues to the baby's death and the mother's disappearance, leading to discovery of a sinister twist (that some cops may be involved) that makes him all the more determined to find out who's responsible. Clausen debuts with a strong effort: Sam is a well-developed, intriguing protagonist whom readers will root for, and the downtown Seattle ambiance, especially the references to teenage gangs, is vivid. The only weak component is Clausen's inclusion of a long-lost relative of Sam's, which seems forced and superfluous. (Dec.)